I currently own a 2005 Chevy Tahoe and am considering trading it in for a more fuel-efficient SUV. I currently average 16.9 mpg in primarily highway driving and very minimal towing. However, I would need the new SUV to be capable of towing 4,000 pounds.
Your question is one we’re asked quite frequently. People are looking for the utility of a truck-based SUV but with better gas mileage — though 16.9 mpg in that huge `ute doesn’t seem too bad. There are a few SUVs worth checking out, some of which fall into the crossover SUV segment and offer mileage in the high teens, low twenties range, including the 2008 Toyota Highlander, 2007 GMC Acadia, 2008 Buick Enclave, 2007 GMC Acadia and 2008 Honda Pilot.
You’ll be sacrificing some towing capacity coming from a Tahoe, but towing 4,000 pounds shouldn’t be a problem if the SUV has an optional tow package. The Highlander is rated at 5,000 pounds, while the Acadia, Pilot, Outlook and Enclave are rated at 4,500 pounds; all numbers are with an optional tow package.
If you want to stay in familiar territory, there’s a more-efficient hybrid version of the Tahoe coming out before the end of the year. The rear-wheel-drive Tahoe Hybrid is estimated at 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway; the four-wheel-drive model is rated at 20/20. The Tahoe Hybrid has a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds, which is less than the regular Tahoe but more than the crossovers.
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The 2007 Magnum is rated at 3,800 pounds with optional tow package.
I have owned a 2006 Honda Pilot and did plenty of towing jobs 2000 to 3500 lbs the pilot will will pull the load but the Honda is very unstable with a full load .Gas mileage was 8 mpg towing 21mpg not towing.Traded for a 2006 Toyota Tundra only to get 14 mpg not towing to 8 mpg towing . The only thing about the Tundra is stable.
How about the Chevrolet Trailblazer or the Kia Sportage?Aren't they rated for 5000 lbs?
I am looking to purchase a travel trailer - the smallest I could find that did not induce claustraphobia was a 19ft - this weighs 3900lbs do I need to add another 1000lbs est for stuff we might pack in the camper?
topic- what is the advantage to buy a car with a factory installed tow package, than buying a new car without it and have the dealer install it at his hitch store?
I have a Jeep Liberty and the tow ratio is extremely high. I have a travel trailer, Fleetwood Niagra (High/Low). My gas mileage towing is about 14 mpg. The Niagra is much longer and taller than my vehicle. The Jeep's have two different gear ratios, so make sure you get the right one.
Unless you want to get the Magnum in AWD, you don't want to tow a boat or skis with it. The RWD will be spinning like crazy, as you pull up the launch ramp.
But it does amuse me how Dodge convinved SOME people they could be cool with a station wagon.
I have read in this blog that the Toy Highlander is more stable, but how does the Toy RAV4 that can be ordered with a V6 and 4WD do with actual towing. I was told by the dealer it can do up to 3500lbs. My concern is that so many of the Crossovers come in AWD so that alone limits my choice. I still like to do backroading too.
RE: Honda Pilot, this is not a rebuttal of earlier comments above, just another point of view. We own a 2010 Pilot Touring and tow a 3700lb GWVR 19' travel trailer, double axle with electric brake, no antisway bar though, we've found the combination to be very road stable. Only had one "sway" incident driving in over 6500miles last summer coming down the continental divide our speed topped 70mph at one point and the sway became fairly pronounced (scary) for about 5 seconds, but we recovered from that ok and kept it under 60 since then, no problems whatsoever at that speed. Gas mileage in our rig is at parity with other comments, 8mpg towing is about right. Just need to factor in that cost no matter what you drive I suppose. On secondary roads I found I could get the overdrive to stay on reliably under 55mph in the Touring, this brought mileage up to about 15mpg depending on headwind. It's more fun than interstates anyway.
al, the advantage is that you will get things like oil and tranny fluid cooling, heavy duty altenator, heavy duty wiring w fuses relays etc, you can easily bolt on your own hitch, but 7 pin wiring from uhaul etc is iffy at best and a lot of times they will splice a 7 pin housing into your tail lights only giving you 4 pin capability(no brakes and elec etc) i have a tundra that came w no hitch and only a 4 pin, i installed a class3 hitch myself in 30 mins for 140.00 only 4 bolts no drilling etc, very easy, but had to pay the dealer 700 to install the oem 7 pin and it was well worth 700, my tundra doesnt have cooling alt etc but ii only pull 4000 w a 5.7 beast truck, i dont even feel the trailer behind it going straight up hill at 85 mph
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Isn't the Dodge Magnum rated are 5000 pounds for towing with the hemi? I would think that would tow much better than the Pilot and get the same if not better gas mileage.